Please bring luggage from hotel rooms to hotel lobby (assistance as needed). During Sitka field trip, walking up to 1 mile with stops along the way.
Our breakfast buffet at the hotel includes oatmeal, French toast, eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage, fruit, orange juice, tea, milk.
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any program changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. After bringing our luggage down and checking out of the hotel, we'll board a motorcoach and make our way to the Alaska Raptor Center. Here we'll witness all of the wonderful work this place doing to rehabilitate the local raptors. Following our tour of the Alaska Raptor Center, we will have the chance to explore the historic Sitka National Historical Park. One of Alaska's most charming communities, Sitka lies in a protected harbor rich in natural resources and has a complex history dating back over 8,000 years beginning with the Kiksadi Tlingit people as the native residents. Serious Russian interest began in 1725 when they began to explore the Pacific coast of North America until they eventually established, after much fighting with the Tlingit people, Sitka as an administrative center.
At the Alaskan Dream Cruise Hospitality Suite, we’ll choose from a selection of pre-made sandwiches along with dessert items, fresh fruit and sodas, water, coffee and tea.
Free Time. Take the afternoon to explore Sitka on your own. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. If you would like to visit the Sheldon Jackson Museum or the Sitka Sound Science Center during your free time please make sure you are wearing your Road Scholar name tag. Your name tag is your ticket to those two places. Following our free afternoon we'll meet back at the hotel where we'll board a motorcoach that will take us to the dock. We will then board our vessel and begin our journey along Alaska's Inside Passage. After boarding, we will meet the Captain and crew and have an orientation session outlining safety procedures as we get underway. After we settle in, we’ll transit two beautiful, twisty narrow passages where we can look for sea otters, bald eagles, and other creatures.
In the dining room, enjoy plated meals prepared by professionally trained chefs using fresh and locally produced foods plus one complimentary glass of beer or wine with all dinners aboard the ship. Coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate and water are included; other beverages available for purchase. Menus change daily, usually including a seafood or meat entrée.
A staff member will provide an overview of tomorrow’s activities as well as discuss the local history and culture. The ship’s public address system allows participants to hear programs in the forward lounge (where most of our onboard programming occurs) or in the comfort of staterooms.